For years, in cases involving the death or serious injuries of small children, parents have lost their rights based on a hypothesis known as the Shaken Baby Syndrome. In detailing this hypothesis, so-called medical experts have successfully mesmerized judges and juries who are looking for easy explanations for these tragic events. Thankfully, new science is coming forward debunking that theory.

The following is taken from the website of The Innocence Project:

On July 1, Texas set Robert Roberson’s execution for Oct. 17, despite new evidence that he is an innocent man wrongly convicted under the now-debunked shaken baby syndrome (SBS) hypothesis. Mr. Roberson would be the first person in the U.S. executed based on the discredited SBS hypothesis unless the courts or Gov. Abbott intervenes.

Mr. Roberson’s case is riddled with unscientific evidence, inaccurate and misleading medical testimony, and prejudicial treatment. In 2002, Mr. Roberson’s two-year old, chronically ill daughter, Nikki, was sick with a high fever and suffered a short fall from bed. Hospital staff did not know Mr. Roberson had autism and judged his response to his daughter’s grave condition as lacking emotion. Mr. Roberson was prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to death for Nikki’s death. 

The overwhelming medical and scientific evidence now shows that Nikki died of accidental and natural causes. Mr. Roberson’s innocence case is attracting growing and widespread support from eminent scientists, doctors, faith leaders, innocence groups, former federal judges, best-selling novelist John Grisham, and the lead detective who testified for the prosecution, who now believes he contributed to an innocent person being sent to death row.